Hover raising and lowering device for battery brooders



April 8, 1941. A. R. HOEFT 2.237.557

HOVER RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODERS Filed Oct. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. R. HQEFT April 8, 1941.

HOVER RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR BATTERY BROODEHS Filed Oct. 29 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J Patented Apr. 8, 194-1 @FHQE HQVER RAISING AND LOWERHNG DEVIQE FUR BATTERY BROQDERS Adolph R. Hoeft, Evanston, Ill, assignor to Bell and Gossett Company, Chicago, lit, a corporation of Illinois Applicaticn October 29, 1933, Ecrial No. 237,691

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hover raising and lowering devices for battery brooders and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In battery brooders, a hover is arranged above each deck and under which the chicks congregate for warmth; The hover is so disposed in the brooder that it may be raised into the desired position with respect to the deck as the chicks grow in size. However, at. certaintimes the hover must be raised to a greater height to provide arm room for culling andremoving certain chicks and this height is such as to prevent the fear-stricken chicks from hopping onto the top of the hover.

Again, the hover must rise and lower evenly and must stay or remain in the position into which it has been adjusted against a gravitational .ac-

, tion-otherwise the chicks mightvbecomeiniured thereofywill; more fully appear as'the specificationproceeds.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a battery brooder embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the deck portions of the brooder astaken on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailvertical sectional-view through a part of thebrooder, on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig; 4 is another detail vertical sectional View through a partof the brooder, also on" an enlarged scale as taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail tothat embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: The brooder includes upright corner posts or legs iil ifi connected together at vertically spaced points by end frame members Il--!l and side framemembers l'2l2 all made of angle bar. r

The sideframe members l2--l2 are further connected together by a pair of cross bars 13-43 in the form of channels with the vertical flanges facing downwardly and by an intermediate angle bar lta, see Fig. 1. A suitable distance below the frame members H and it, the corner posts or legs lil-lll are connected together along each side of the frame by tie bars 14 in the form of angle bars which in turn are connected together at their mid portions by across bar 15 of a T bar cross section with the vertical: flange facing upwardly and arranged in the transverse plane of the angle bar i351. The horizontal flanges of the bars Hi and it provide the support for decks or floor sections Hi-lfi made of 'woven wire and removable from the frame of the hover fromthe ends. Of course the usual pan (not shown) is provided beneath each deckfor the droppings. In battery brooders, the structures above described are duplicated in vertical succession as tiers, but only one tier appears in the-drawings.

A hover I1 is disposed in a horizontal plane between the planes of the frame members H and i2 and thedeck section. Said hover, which'is of the conventional electrically heated kind, is arranged centrally of the outline as provided by the frame members II and l2'and terminates at its ends in substantiallythe vertical planes of the channel bars it. As best shown in Fig. 1 the side and end edges of the hover are spaced inwardly from and are parallel with the end and'the side frame members H and 12 respectively.

The hover is mounted for guided movement away from and toward the deck sections in the following manner. A plate it is fixed to the central portion of each end of the hover so as to extend somewhat above the hover. Each plate is formed to provide inturned flanges [El-i9 in the manner of a gib to receive a relatively wide plate or slide 29 depending from an associated channel [3. The flanges Iill9 overlap marginal pcrtions of the plate or slide Zil as best appears in Fig. 2. With this construction, it is assured that the movement of the hover ll away from and toward the deck sections is an even one that eliminates any binding action at the guide means.

To impart movement to said hover, the following arrangement is, provided: ill indicates a horizontally disposed shaft arranged midway between the side frame members 12-412 and passing through and beyond the vertical flanges of the channel bars H3, in which said shaft is journalled. Those end portions Zia of said shaft extending beyond the channel bars 23 are bifurcated to receive the cross pin of an actuator 22 that may be insertedthrough either of the holes provided therefor in the end frame memb rs When the actuator is thus operatively connected to either end of the shaft, the shaft may be turned in one direction or the other.

Sprocket wheels 23 are fixed to the shaft 2|, one between the pair of vertical flanges of each channel bar [3. Each sprocket has a chain 24 trained thereon and one end of each chain is operatively secured to the top of the hover on its median line. The other end of each chain is fixed to one end of a contractible coiled spring 25 and the other end of said spring is attached to one of the side frame members by means of a link 26.

A drum 2'! (see Fig. 4) of relatively small diameter is fixed to the shaft 2!, below the horizontal flange of the angle bar 13a and a braking strap or band 28 surrounds the major portion of the drum, the strap being supported by a block 29 in turn fixed to the underside of the horizontal flange of the angle bar l3a. A wing nut 30 is provided to draw the ends of the band or strap 28 together and thus determine the braking effort that said band or strap may impose upon the drum.

To lower the hover toward the deck sections, the shaft Zl is turned in a counterclockwise direction as appears in Fig. 2, against the braking effect of the band 28 on the drum 21. In this lowering movement of the hover, toward the deck sections, the spring 25 is expanded. When the shaft 2| is turned clockwise as appears in Fig. 2, this will elevate or raise the hover away from the deck sections, the spring 25 contracting to take up the slack in the chain 24 so that it will not sag. While other flexible elements may be used in place of the chains, chains are preferred because there is no slippage between the chain and sprocket so that said chains are maintained at even lengths.

It is pointed out at this time, that no matter which way the shaft 2| is turned, to raise or lower the hover to the desired position, the braking effect of the band 28 on the drum 2'! is sufiicient to hold the hover at the desired elevation. Should it be found that through wear on the drum 2'! or on the band 28 the braking effect is such as to permit slippage, the wing screw 30 may be tightened up to provide that braking action which will hold the hover in the desired position.

The spaces between the sides of the hover and the sides of the frame are partitioned, to permit segregation of the chicks or birds in each tier of the brooder into smaller spaces or areas, thus making it easier to reach in with the arm from the sides or the outer end of each tier in culling the chicks or birds. between each side of the hover and the two sides of the frame, a plurality of sets of upright, laterally spaced rods 3| of small diameter, fixed at their ends to the bars Isa and 15 respectively so as to form partition sections.

As the hover is raised and lowered with respect to the deck, it is, of course, evident that some means must be provided below the hover that will coact with the partition sections to complete the partition and therefore the following structure is present.

32 indicates a telescopic or folding partition section located below the hover in line with the first mentioned partition sections. This partition section comprises top, intermediate and bottom plates 33-34 and 35 respectively, each having vertically disposed slots 36 therein. The plates are telescopically connected together by means of pin and slot connections 31 between adjacent plates, as appears in Figs. 2 and 3.

Therefore, there is provided The bottom plate 35 is fixed along its bottom margin to the cross bar connection 38 with opposed sides of the hover.

When the hover is being raised into the desired position, it is apparent that the plates 333 and 35 will slide relatively at their pin and slot connections to that extended position that will keep the space between the hover and the frame member l5 closed. When the hover is lowered into the desired position, the plates 3334 and 35 will again slide relatively at their pin and slot connections to accommodate that position of the hover. With the spaced rod construction for the side sections of the partition and with the rela tively telescopic end plates for the central section of the partition, it is apparent that a degree of ventilation necessary for the welfare of the chicks is possible longitudinally of the brooder.

Itis to be understood that the sides and an end of each tier of the brooder are provided with the usual feeding and drinking troughs and with the associated grille guards but in Fig. 2 I have shown only one trough and its grille guard. In this instance the trough is indicated at 39 and the guard is indicated at 40. As the specific structure of said trough and of said guard forms no particular part of the present invention, it is not believed necessary to further illustrate or describe the same in any greater detail.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A brooder including a deck and horizontal frame members above said deck, a hover arranged above said deck for a raising and lowering movement toward and away from said deck, coacting guiding means on said frame members and on said hover respectively, means for imparting movement to said hover and including a member rotatably mounted in at least one of said frame members, a flexible member trained about said rotatably mounted member and connected at one end to the hover, means arranged substantially parallel throughout its length with said one of said frame members and to which the other end of said flexible member is operatively connected to take up the slack therein, and means for holding the hover in the desired position with respect to the deck.

2. A brooder including a deck and horizontal frame members above said deck, a hover arranged above said deck for a raising and lowering movement toward and away from said deck, coacting guiding means on said frame members and on said hover respectively, means for imparting movement to said hover and including a member rotatably mounted in at least one of said frame members, a flexible member trained about said rotatably mounted member and connected at one end to the hover, means including a contractible spring disposed beneath one of said frame members and operatively connected at one end to a fixed part of the brooder and operatively connected at the other end to said flexible member and means for holding the hover in the desired position with respect to the deck.

3. In a brooder, a frame including horizontal frame members, a deck supported by said frame below said frame members, a hover arranged above said deckfor' a guided raising and loweringmovement with respect to said frame members'away from and toward said deck, a shaft rotati'vely' mounted in at least one ofsaid frame members above the hover, means cooperating with said shaft for raising and lowering said hover away from 'and toward said deck, said means including a portion extending between said hover and said shaft,a slack take up portion and a third portionextending between said take up portion and said shaft, said two last mentioned portions being disposed beneath said one of said frame members, and means for holding said hover in the desired position relative to said deck.

4. In a brooder, a frame, a deck supported thereby, said frame including flanged members, a hover arranged above said deck for a raising and lowering movement away from and toward said deck, coacting guide means on said frame members and hover respectively, a shaft four;- nailed in said frame members above the hover, a member fixed to said shaft, a flexible member trained about said member and connected at one end to said hover, means providing a slack take up connected to the other end of said flexible member, said flexible members and said last men tioned means being disposed within said flanged frame members, and means for holding said hover in the desired position relative to said deck 5. In a brooder, a frame, a deck supported thereby, said frame including laterally spaced channels, a hover arranged above said deck for a guided raising and lowering movement with re spect to said channels away from and toward said taken up there-by, and means for holding said hover in the desired position relative to said deck.

6. In a brooder, a frame including frame members, each having at least one downwardly extending vertical flange, a deck supported by said frame below said frame members, a hover arranged between said deck and said frame members, interengaged members on said hover and frame members respectively, providing a guide for said hover in a raising and lowering movement thereof away from and toward said deck, a shaft journalled in certain of said frame members, means disposed in the vertical plane of but beneath each of said frame members and cooperating with said shaft for raising and lowering the hover away from and toward said deck, said means including a portion extending between said hover and said shaft, a slack take up portion and a third portion extending between said take up portion andv said shaft, and means for holding said hover in the desired position relative to said deck.

7. In a brooder, a frame including frame members, each having at least one downwardly extending vertical flange, a deck supported by said frame below said frame members, a hover arranged between said deck and' said frame mem bers, interengaged members on said hover and frame members respectively, providing a guide for said hover in a raising and lowering movement means for holding the hover in desired position relative to the deck; 7

' 8. In a brooder, a frame, a deck supported thereby, a hover arranged above said deck, guide means for said hover in a raising and lowering movement away from and toward the deck, a rotatably mounted shaft above said hover, means operatively connecting said hover to said shaft whereby when the shaft is rotated in one direction or the other said hover is raised or lowered with respect to the deck, a drum fixed to said shaft, a band frictionally engaged with the drum for holding the shaft against movement under the weight of the hover, and means for adjusting the tension of said band and its frictional enagement with the drum.

9. In a brooder, a frame including horizontal frame members of channel cross section with their flanges disposed vertically, a deck supported by said frame below said frame members, a hover arranged between said deck and said frame members, coacting parts on certain of said frame members and on said hover respectively providing a guide means for said hover for a raising and a lowering movement thereof toward and away from said deck, means having flexible portions thereof disposed between the flanges of certain of said channel frame members for imparting a raising and a lowering movement to said hover in said guide means, and means for holding said hover in said guide means in the desired position relative to the deck.

10. In a brooder, a frame including horizontal frame members of channel cross section with their flanges disposed vertically, a deck supported by said frame below said frame members, a hover arranged between said deck and said frame members, coacting parts on certain of said frame members and on said hover respectively providing a guide means for said hover for a raising and a lowering movement thereof toward and away from said deck, a shaft arranged transversely of said certain of said frame members and journal'led in the flanges thereof, means connecting said shaft to said hover and including parts disposed entirely within and extending longitudinally of said frame members and whereby when said shaft is turned in one direction or the other, a raising or a lowering movement is imparted to said hover in said guide means, and means operating upon said shaft for holding the hover in said guide means in the desired position relative to said deck.

11. In a brooder, a frame including sets of upper and lower horizontal frame members, one of the frame members of the lower set including an upwardly directed flange. a deck supported by said set of lower frame members, a hover arranged above said deck, coacting means on the frame members of said upper set and on said hover respectively, providing a guided movement for the hover toward and away from the deck, barrier means in the space between said hover and said deck and dividing said space into compartments, said means including a plurality of members, one of which is connected at its upper end to the hover and another of which is attached at its lower end to said' flange, said members of said barrier means being formed for the passage of air therethrough between said compartments, and means providing connections between said last mentioned members to permit a relatively telescopic expanding and contracting action thereof in the movement of the hover toward and away from the deck.

12. In a brooder, a frame including sets of upper and lower horizontal frame members, one of the frame members of the lower set including an upwardly directed flange, a deck supported by said set of lower frame members, a hover arranged above said deck, coacting means on the frame members of said upper set and on said hover respectively, providing a guided movement for the hover toward and away from the deck, barrier means in the space between said hover and said deck and dividing said space into compartments, said means including a member fixed to and depending from the hover, a second member fixed to and extending upwardly from said flange and at least a third member between said first and. second members; at least one of said members having openings therein to permit the passage of air therethrough from. one compartment'to the other, and means providing a connection between said last three mentioned members to permit a relative telescopic expanding and contracting action thereof in the movements of the hover toward and away from the deck.

ADOLPH R. HOEFT. 

